It's true! In the UK, there are now urinals at pubs that integrate a "p-controlled" gaming. Seriously, your aim is your control. Check it out for yourself here.
Now that beach weather is finally here, here is some inspiration for having some fun with the sand. This is an incredible production by World champion sand sculptor JOOheng Tan. This was created as backdrops for an advertising campaign for OMO washing detergent in Singapore. Art direction by Karen Vermeulen. (via ads of the world)
For Japan's girl trio group, Perfume, the marketing and ad execs tried a new way to promote the groups new album, JPN. In Shibuya, a popular and heavily trafficked area in Tokyo, they have installed a plug-in station where you can hear the trio's new album. Literally, you just plug in your own headphones and listen.
This is a simple and easy way to create an interactive ad space. We've all heard the fails of augmented reality advertising, so why not keep it simple. If it's easy, people will participate...as Perfume's ad seems to be a success.
Last year, to push Missonis for Target even further Mother New York created a 25-foot-tall blogging marionette named Marina. Enormous phone in hand, she attended New York Fashion Week events and generating even more buzz for the popular new Target collection. Of course, one could follow her on Twitter or read her blog, where she occasionally posted amusing photos from her "phone."
In a culture where creativity and self-expression have become the social currency, the automotive industry has taken this trend on and brought it to new heights. Here are just a few examples:
Mustang has recently released a wonderful execution of this trend with their Mustang 2013 commercial. Here, the car changes depending on who see's it, implying that everyone has their own way of perceving and expressing. Concluding with the tagline: "Everyone has an Inner Mustang. Unleash yours." Personally, I love the little ballerina in the end, who changes into the Black Swan as she sees her reflection in the window, she sees another side of herself that only the Mustang could've brought to her attention.
In France and Italy, Fiat revelas their campaign: “Fiat 500, 500% You.”
And last year the Honda Civic released their campaign: "To each their own".
Perhaps it's brand manager's attempt to create a push toward the Millennial consumer, who experience self-expression and creativity as a highly mobile activity. They are in constant flux of their identity all while driving through the tension of individuality and belonging.
As American Honda Motor Co. states in an article for Dexigner.com:
"The challenge with this campaign is to get Gen Y to give Civic credit for being inventive and cool. To turn some of these perceptions into thinking of Civic as well-designed, trendy and technologically advanced. We want to talk directly with our target by tapping into their appreciation for 'collective individualism' -addressing the diversity of Civic drivers while also engaging them around their common interests," said Joe Baratelli, EVP, ECD at RPA. "The five different characters keep it entertaining and set the campaign apart. But, just as importantly, reveal that there's a Civic out there for everyone."
Burger King Netherlands, introduces a new wave of advertising using eye makeup and other cosmetics as a platform.
The ad reveals an artisitic expression of the brand's signature product while the contours of the model’s eyes perform specific representations of the burger; the lid serves as the burger bun, the eyelashes are painted green for the lettuce, while the lower eyelids are colored with dashes of yellow, red, and brown to render the cheese, tomatoes, and burger patty, respectively.
PSFK described it in their title as "Immortilizing their cheeseburger", an interesting way of describing a whole new sense of advertising especially during a time when mortality is being challenge by many futurists.
The recent print ads for Mad-Men is creating quite a creative stir. This beautifully stripped down ad first appeared in the city on telephone booths and subway stations a few weeks ago. At first, people were sharing the image as a commentary on how stunning the ad was due to its simplicity and plethora of white space, leaving the viewer to figure out the rest...in their mind at least. Finally, I thought...an ad concept where the brand doesn't under-estimate its consumer.
But then, something even more amazing happened: people started drawing on them in subway stations reminecsent of graffitti and also using photoshopping tools to tell their own stories. All the while using Mad-Men as its canvas. This is when branding can become beautifully embeded in culture...not by dictating culture or trying to manufacture it (caugh cough, Grant McCracken;) but by courting culture. By allowing brands to be used by their consumers as a platform turns the cluttered landscape into a meaningful experience...for everyone.
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 9:00AM 
10. Adele
9. Gwen Stefani 
8. Taylor Swift
7. Gwyneth Paltrow
6. Blake Lively
5. Sophia Vergara
4. Jennifer Lopez
3. Jessica Chastain
2. Lady Gaga
1. Jennifer Lawrence
